Comic characters: Roger the Dodger, features in work by Robert T Nixon

THE life of a cartoonist is being celebrated with an exhibition of his work.

There is something to interest everyone at the display of Robert T Nixon's work at the Kirkleatham Museum, near Redcar.

The artist died six years ago and his daughter, Catherine Nixon, said his family wanted everyone to enjoy his public and private work.

The exhibition, which runs for two months, is in two distinct categories. There are cartoons he illustrated for comics, such as Dandy, Beano and Whoopee, and then there are the landscape drawings he did in private, along with his fantasy illustrations.

Mr Nixon was born in South Bank and moved to Guisborough with his family in the early 1960s.

He worked as a cartoonist for DC Thomson's of Dundee and Fleetway, the comic division of the International Publishing Corporation.

His daughter, of Saltburn, said: "My dad died six years ago and putting on an exhibition of his work was something he had wanted to do, but never got around to it.

"We just thought it would be a nice thing to do. One of the things about my dad's work is that it's so diverse, so, hopefully, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

"I would encourage people to go down and have a look. There is the comic side, which kids might enjoy, and then the landscapes and fantasy. It would be great if it got kids interested in cartoons, as I think comics are a dying trade."

In line with the exhibition, the museum's children's activity area is all about getting youngsters involved in cartoons and comics.

Entrance to the museum is free.

10:52am Friday 4th July 2008

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